Drill pipe handling tool

Abstract

A tool for handling an elongated, tubular drill pipe has an elongated body between a first and second end for engaging and holding a first and second end of the drill pipe. The engagement ends of the tool are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the length of the drill pipe. The engagement ends are capable of being elastically spread apart when the drill pipe is being engaged, and thereafter the elastic spreading is released to cause the tool to remain in engagement with the drill pipe during the handling thereof.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tool for handling an elongated, tubular drill pipe of a predetermined length, said drill pipe having a first end and a second end spaced elongatedly apart, comprising: a. a first end engagement means for engaging and holding a drill pipe at said first end;   b. a second end engagement means for engaging and holding a drill pipe at said second end;   c. an elongated body member extending between said first end engagement means and said second end engagement means, spacing apart said first end engagement means and said second end engagement means a distance less than said predetermined drill pipe length;   d. means on said first end engagement means for permitting elastic spreading apart of said first end engagement means and said second end engagement means a distance greater than said predetermined drill pipe length, whereby said second end engagement means can be inserted into said second end of a drill pipe; and   e. said first end engagement means being a lifting bail assembly comprising: i. a mounting head member;   ii. a shaft extending therefrom for extending within a bore at said first end of a drill pipe;   iii. a plug slidably mounted on said shaft, for engaging and holding said first end of a drill pipe;   iv. an elastic compression spring means slidably mounted on said shaft between said plug and said mounting head member, for forcing said plug into engagement with said first end of a drill pipe, when said first end engagement means and second end engagement means are spread apart; and   v. a lifting eye on said mounting head member.     
     
     
       2. The tool of claim 1 wherein said second end engagement means includes a hook member for engaging and holding a drill pipe second end. 
     
     
       3. The tool of claim 2 wherein said body member extends in an axis alongside an axis of said shaft. 
     
     
       4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said lifting eye and said hook member are positioned along said axis of said shaft. 
     
     
       5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said body member is pivotably connected to said mounting head member. 
     
     
       6. The tool of claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said body member is a flexible cable. 
     
     
       7. The tool of claim 6 wherein said plug is tapered. 
     
     
       8. A tool for handling an elongated, tubular drill pipe of a predetermined length, having a pin joint end and a box joint end spaced elongatedly apart comprising: a. a pin joint end engagement means for engaging and holding a drill pipe at a pin joint end;   b. a box joint end engagement means for engaging and holding a drill pipe at a box joint end;   c. an elongated body member extending between said pin joint end engagement means and said box joint end engagement means, spacing apart said pin joint end engagement means and said box joint end engagement means a distance less than said predetermined drill pipe length;   d. means on said box joint end engagement means for permitting elastically spreading apart of said pin joint end engagement means and said box joint end engagement means a distance greater than said predetermined drill pipe length, whereby said pin joint end engagement means can be inserted into said pin joint end of said drill pipe; and   e. said box joint end engagement means being a lifting bail assembly comprising: i. a mounting head member;   ii. a shaft extending therefrom for extending within a bore at said box joint end of a drill pipe;   iii. a plug slidably mounted on said shaft, for engaging and holding said box joint end of a drill pipe;   iv. an elastic compression spring means slidably mounted on said shaft between said plug and said mounting head member, for forcing said plug into engagement with said box joint end of a drill pipe, when said pin joint end engagement means and box joint end engagement means are spread apart; and   v. a lifting eye on said mounting head member.     
     
     
       9. A tool for handling an elongated, tubular drill pipe of a predetermined length, having a pin joint end and a box joint end spaced elongatedly apart comprising: a. a pin joint end engagement means for engaging and holding a drill pipe at a pin joint end;   b. a box joint end engagement means for engaging and holding a drill pipe at a box joint end;   c. an elongated body member extending between said pin joint end engagement means and said box joint end engagement means, spacing apart said pin joint end engagement means and said box joint end engagement means a distance less than said predetermined drill pipe length;   d. means on said elongated body member, for permitting elastically spreading apart of said pin joint end engagement means and said box joint end engagement means a distance greater than said predetermined drill pipe length, whereby said pin joint end engagement means can be inserted into said pin joint end of said drill pipe; and   e. said box joint end engagement means being a lifting bail assembly comprising: i. a mounting head member;   ii. a shaft extending therefrom for extending within a bore at said box joint end of a drill pipe;   iii. a plug mounted on said shaft, for engaging and holding said box joint end of a drill pipe; and   iv. a lifting eye on said mounting head member.